Judge unlikely to boost award in Israel bombings to over $1B

NEW YORK (AP) — A U.S. judge has indicated he is unlikely to boost a $654 million lawsuit award to victims of terror attacks in Israel over a decade ago to more than $1 billion.

Federal Judge George Daniels said at a hearing in New York City on Tuesday he was not convinced the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority should have to pay interest.

A lawyer for the PLO told the judge that interest could boost the award to over $1 billion and bring an end to the Palestinian Authority.

In February, a jury awarded $218 million to victims. It concluded the Palestinian groups were behind attacks in the early 2000s that killed 33 people and wounded hundreds more, including some Americans. The award is automatically tripled under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act.